�Uh, hi,� I said. �I�m ShoeGoil.� Nobody spoke, they all just stared at me. It was very unnerving. �Gaw, is any one gonna say hi, or are you all just gonna stare at me like I�m some kinda freak?� A few guys said hi, and they all smiled at me. �Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better.�

�Anything ta make ya comfortable,� Kid Blink said, and grinned at me. I smiled back.

�Can I tell you guys how much you all mean to me?� There were a few uncomfortable glances at eachother.

�Ya don�t know us. How can we be so �portant ta ya?� Mush asked, and I have to admit that I almost freaked out right then and there, because this was so real, and amazing, not to mention I had never in my life thought that Mush would say something like that to ME.

�He�s right,� I finally said. �I don�t know you personally. But I know what you stand for.�

�What do ya mean, �stand for?�� Boots asked, with a confused look on his face.

�Well, you stand for freedom from the giants. Unity. Power. Strength. Family and Friends. Love.� I paused, but no one else spoke. �Where I come from, the Manhattan newsies are a symbol of pride, and respect.�

�Really?� Snipeshooter asked. I nodded. �But how do ya know �bout us?�

�Well, we read about you guys, and write stories about you, and talk about you all the time. It�s a dream come true to meet you guys. I just never thought that when I finally had a chance to meet you, you�d be sitting around gabbing, and playing poker.� I glanced at Race, who lowered his gaze. �I thought you�d be out having your adventures, soaking the Delancy�s, selling your papes.� I paused, and smiled. �Going to Medda�s, meeting goils, getting into trouble!�

�Woah, woah, woah! You WANT us ta get inta trouble?� Race said.

�I don�t want you to do anything you don�t want to do. If you want to sit around on your lazy buns every day, taking up space and air, and causing Kloppman to lose his money,� I glanced at him, and he put down his losing poker hand, �then, I guess that is okay. But you guys are letting down all your fans. We love you because you love New York, and because you love life! So go live!� I gestured towards the door, and the boys all jumped up and started towards it, leaving me behind.

�Aren�t you forgetting someone?� The all turned back, and one by one they held out their hands, for me to take.

�Come on, Shoe. Let�s go sell Papes!� Race yelled, and I grabbed his hand happily, walking through the swarm of boys, who all clapped me on the back.

As we left, I yelled over my shoulder, �Kloppman, get back to that front desk! You�re going to have some work to do when we get back!�

***********

The boys were all out of practice of selling papers, so none of them sold more than thirty by lunchtime, but it might have had something to do with the fact that none of them wanted to leave my side, or Sarah�s side, I wasn�t sure which. Nobody had seen Jack all day, so we were all worried about him, and where he had run off to.

�Don�t worry, Sarah,� I said to her. �Dave�s with him.� She limply smiled.

�That�s what I am afraid of.� There were a few laughs, but I had no idea what she meant, so I just shrugged.

�Well, let�s go eat, kuz i�m starved,� I said, and the rest of the newsies agreed.

�Tibby�s?� Itey asked.

�Yeah! Tibby�s!� They all started running, and Sarah and I looked at eachother like �okay, I THINK they�re hungry, but I�m not sure.�

�We haven�t been here in ages,� Itey said to me as we entered the famous restaurant, and I smiled at him. �I miss it.�

As the rest of the guys walked over to their usual corner, Race pulled me aside.

�Shoe, I, uh,� he stuttered, and I smiled at him kindly. �I�s been thinkin� of ya since I foist saw ya on dat stage wid Kelly. Youse really pretty. So, I got ya this, ta put in yer hair.� He showed me a little daisy chain, and clumsily set it on my head.

�Race, that is so sweet! Thanks.� I kissed his cheek in a sisterly way, then laughed at his blushing cheeks.

Just then, we heard a commotion. �It�s Jack! Jack�s here!� Mush was yelling. We smiled at eachother and walked over to the group.

Read Part 14

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